The Ultimate Risks of Mixing Seroquel and Alcohol and Why You Should Not Do That

Are there risks to mixing alcohol with other sedative substances? Is it possible to overdose on Seroquel and alcohol? The answer to these questions is, yes! Seroquel is prescribed to treat significant mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. When alcohol is consumed while taking Seroquel, you become much more drowsy and very confused. It is also possible to feel the Effects of Alcohol in a shorter period of time when taking Seroquel. Mild to severe alcohol use comes with its own varying side effects and these in conjunction with the side effects of taking Seroquel can lead to sudden death from low and irregular heartbeat. Due to the severity of the side effects of Seroquel and alcohol, it’s crucial to avoid alcohol at all costs while taking Seroquel.

What Will be the Side Effect of Mixing Seroquel and Alcohol?

When taking an antipsychotic medication like Seroquel, it’s important to know what side effects come with taking this drug as well as the side effects involved when taking other drugs in combination with Seroquel. Seroquel medication is prescribed to schizophrenia patients. When an individual has schizophrenia, symptoms may include:

• Hallucinations
• Delusions
• Disorganized Thinking
• Decreased want to be around other people
• Problems speaking clearly
• Lack of motivation

Consuming alcohol when you have a mental illness and are on medication can make the illness much worse, especially for schizophrenia patients. The interaction between Seroquel and alcohol can be extremely dangerous and lead to severe cognition problems, suicide, and death.

What is Seroquel?

Seroquel is the generic brand name for Quetiapine and is prescribed for patients with schizophrenia. Quetiapine acts as an antipsychotic and works by rebalancing dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitters in the brain to improve thinking, mood, and behavior. What else does Seroquel treat? • Manic Episodes from Bipolar Disorder • Depressive Episodes from Bipolar Disorder • Long Term Treatment of Bipolar Disorder • Major Depressive Disorder • Delusional Parasitosis • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder • Anxiety Disorders It’s best to avoid alcohol and other drugs when taking Seroquel because the use of other drugs may interact with the Seroquel increasing your sedation and causing more mental confusion. Also Read: How Alcohol Abuse Treatment Plans Can Help Your Loved One

What Are the Side Effects of Seroquel?

Seroquel is for people who need long term treatment for schizophrenia. It is very possible to overdose on this medication and it can create mild to severe adverse effects. Some of the most common side effects of using Seroquel include:

• Increased Blood Pressure
• Increased Heart Rate
• Extrapyramidal Symptoms
• Drowsiness
• Headache
• Agitation
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Weight Gain
• Dry Mouth
• Constipation
• Increased Glucose
• Increased Appetite
• Cholesterol Abnormalities

It’s important to talk to your doctor about what to avoid when taking this medication especially in conjunction with other medications, even herbal or natural ones.

Are There Any Serious Side Effects?

Seroquel comes with some rare but serious side effects with long term usage. Seroquel can increase the blood levels of prolactin and when this happens its possible that females will lose their period as well as milk production while males lose their sex drive and may develop erectile problems. With long term use and prolonged increased levels of prolactin, osteoporosis can occur as well as an increased risk for bone fractures. Furthermore, this drug can also affect your muscles causing restlessness, uncontrolled jerk movements, tremors, and stiffness. Other serious symptoms include: • Impaired core body temperature regulation • Dehydration • Weight gain • High blood sugar • High cholesterol It’s also important to note that antipsychotic medications carry the risk for sudden cardiac death caused by an irregular heartbeat.

How Does Alcohol Interact with Seroquel?

Alcohol interacts with Seroquel by increasing the symptoms of Seroquel causing extreme drowsiness, confusion, low blood pressure, as well as cognitive problems and motor skill problems. You become much more sedated and feel the effects of alcohol much quicker, this can be very dangerous to your body and can make it extremely difficult to interact with others, get work done, take care of yourself, and may increase harm on to others if you took this combination and attempted to operate heavy machinery. The interaction between Seroquel and alcohol is lethal and extremely dangerous. Medical professionals suggest avoiding all forms of alcohol when taking antipsychotics.

Is it Safe to Drink Alcohol While Taking Seroquel?

It is never a good idea to drink alcohol while taking Seroquel Combining Seroquel and alcohol can lead to coma and death. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 95,000 people die each year from alcohol abuse alone. Doctors consider it to be extremely unsafe to combine alcohol with antipsychotics like Seroquel and will typically advise against it. The high from mixing Seroquel and alcohol can be extremely deadly. It’s also important to be aware that some medications contain alcohol such as certain nasal sprays and cold medicines. Always talk to your doctor before taking any other medications while on Seroquel.

Alcohol and Seroquel Serious Side Effects

Serious side effects will develop if you decide to consume alcohol while taking Seroquel. If taking more than prescribed, you can reach toxic levels that can force you to stop breathing. Some of the more serious effects of Seroquel and alcohol include: • Extreme psychosis in elderly patients • Neuroleptic malignant syndrome • Extrapyramidal symptoms • Increased suicidal thoughts • Heart disease • Hypotension • Stroke It is also possible to experience withdrawal symptoms when using Seroquel and alcohol together. Withdrawal symptoms look and feel like:

• Stress and anxiety
• Social withdrawal
• Headaches
• Pain
• Sinusitis
• High Blood Pressure
• Agitation
• Nausea
• Drug Dependence
• Joint Pain

Mixing alcohol with antipsychotics can also put you at risk for internal bleeding and breathing problems that can become very dangerous if not treated. Also Read: Top Qualities of the Best Alcohol Drug Rehab Centers in California

Dangers of Alcohol

Drinking in excess whether it be over a long period of time or in a short period, has lasting adverse effects and reactions to the brain, heart, liver, and pancreas and increases your risk for several cancers. Alcohol also weakens your immune system making it easier for you to become sick or develop diseases.

Short Term Effects of Alcohol:

• Injuries including falls, car accidents, and burns • Violence including homicide, suicide, sexual assault, and domestic abuse • Alcohol poisoning • Risky sexual behaviors that can result in HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases • Miscarriages and stillbirth as well as fetal alcohol syndrome

Long Term Risks of Alcohol:

• High blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, liver disease • Caner of the breast, mouth, throat, liver, colon, rectum, and voice box • Weakening of the immune system • Depression and anxiety • Memory problems such as dementia • Social problems such as family, school, work, etc. • Alcohol dependence There are certain individuals who should avoid alcohol including those who are under the age of 21, those who are pregnant, driving, taking certain medications such as antipsychotics or antidepressants, those who suffer from medical conditions and individuals recovering from alcoholism.

How Long After Taking Seroquel is it Safe to Drink?

Seroquel has a half life of six hours so after about 12 hours of taking the drug it will be almost completely out of your system. It’s recommended to wait at least a day and a half before consuming alcohol to make sure the Seroquel is completely out of your body. Remember that Seroquel is used for long term treatment of schizophrenia and a great way to help treat your schizophrenia symptoms would be to completely eliminate the consumption of alcohol and focus on taking care of yourself mentally and physically.

How to Choose the Best Way to Recover from Seroquel and Alcohol Abuse

Have you or someone you loved been struggling with dual diagnosis? Substance abuse and mental illness can develop and create more problems in the long term. Co -occurring disorders can be treated with several types of therapies, detox from substances, rehab, and support group programs. Is it time for you to enter treatment or find treatment for someone else? Lion Recovery provides services not only for detox but also puts together interventions for people needing treatment as well as relapse prevention. Visit Lion Recovery at their website Best Recovery Center In California – Lion Recovery or call them now for more information on treatment and rehab services at (888) 616-3179. Lion Recovery is a great option for individuals struggling with alcohol and Seroquel addiction. Recovery is possible and Lion Recovery is ready to help you get started.

Citations

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